Input file
IES
- Full Name: IESNA Photometric Data Format
- Developer: Illuminating Engineering Society
Output file
RFA
- Full Name: Autodesk Revit Architecture Family Format
- Developer: Autodesk
What is IES file?
IES (or .ies) is a file extension used for photometric data files created in IESNA LM-63-2002 standard. These files are generally used in the lighting industry for recording and representing lighting fixtures' light intensity distribution data. This kind of file is often used with conversion utilities to make the data compatible with various 3D modeling software. [ ⏩ ] IES file extension
What is RFA file?
RFA (Revit Family File) is a .rfa file format used by Autodesk Revit. Architectural designs created with this software can contain 3D objects that integrate into the design projects, these objects are called families. The RFA file format contains file components such as walls, doors, windows, columns, etc., each of them having a specific design. RFA files are saved in the XML standard format and can be opened by the software applicable for Autodesk Revit. [ ⏩ ] RFA file extension
How to convert the file from IES to RFA?
To successfully convert the IES file to RFA, you should install one of the applications from the list. After installing the software, open the program and select the file you want to convert (file-name.IES). The next step is to select the target format from the list, in this case RFA (usually converters allow you to convert to several different formats, so check out their features - maybe one of the available formats will suit you more than RFA).
What is a file conversion?
A data conversion is normally an automated process to some extent. The effect of the operation of one program is automatically the input product of another application. If that does not happen we need to help the process a little bit and convert the file on our own, e.g. IES to RFA. To obtain a matched structure of the data, it is necessary to use an appropriate converter.
Program for converting IES files to RFA files is a kind of a "binary code translator" compensating for the differences in the code or translating it in such a way so that another application could use it. For us, as users, the visible change will be only another file extension. (After converting the file, it will be the extension RFA, while before this step we had the IES file). For the programs, the difference is on a much higher level – either the application will be able to open a new RFA file, or not.